Hi,I've taken a break from here for last few months but have missed the chats and support. I know I should be on the fertility issues thread but that seems to be mainly for people going through the ivf process.I've been ttc for close to 2 years and am finding it difficult. I have only recently told my sister that we're ttc with no joy as she keeps asking if we have plans to have another (have 2 beautiful children already)...she was shocked that I'm having difficulty getting pregnant as she has 4 children and never had any issues. My mother had 6 children without any issues so they just can't get their heads around it. To be honest it makes me feel like shit as they were really shocked. I don't like to tell friends that there's an issue as I feel then that theyd be nervous around me as so many of them are pregnant and have babies.Infertility is such a lonely road. I don't even talk to dh about it much anymore as it's the same conversation each month and its just getting boring now.I've had bloods done and all seems good, I've had lap and dye and all good, I've had hysteroscopy and d&c and all good.I've tried clomid and I hated it and it caused af to almost disappear as it was so light. At the moment I seem to ovulate around cd14 and af comes then about 11dpo. Af is very light and very poor flow with a lot of brown rather than red. I've tried acupuncture and maya massage but nothing has helped. We won't be going down the ivf route so feel I've exhausted all other routes.Anyone else ttc a long time?I used to Join the trains but they started getting me down after I passed the 12 month mark.Would love to chat to anyone else going through this

That is annoying alright Mosneda. Hope you're doing ok now xSalsa I know how you feel regarding pregnancy announcements, it is so hard. And is it just me or does everything on news feeds etc be pregnancy or baby related?! It's everywhere I look! This time 2 weeks I'll know where I stand, have my first appointment with Gennet that day, it can't come quick enuf!

Mosnenda, I haven't been on in a while. I came back today and I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarraige. I hope you're doing ok x x

We're heading to SIMS for our test results (amh and sperm analysis, they were offering them for free). Then we'll be making a definite decision on what to do after that. We'll be heading to Gennet and we just need to decide when. A friend who had treatment in both SIMS and Cork Fertility Clinic was in Gennet recently and she said that it was so much better over all than the treatment they had in Cork.

Found out my SIL is pregnant. Wasn't as upset this time, but was still teary for a couple of days. Doing my level best to stay positive. Have started trying to use my happiness journal again to see if this helps.

We have considered it altho when We both went to the beacon for fertility testing the woman suggested iui would be our best bet because even with the low follicle count it was evident I ovulated and with his low sperm count that just gettin ovulation right and washed spent could be the answer. We're waiting for his urology appointment since Sep and hoping they'll have answers as to why it's low but we have said next year if we're not pregnant we'd go for it. It's just so expensive and a lot to consider as you know to well

No I haven't had much done since January, had what I think was called an Sis scan, after that he told me about the low egg reserve and bloods confirmed low amh, he said it's unexplainable in 50% of women, I'm only 34! He said it varies from month to month so I'm praying that was a bad month. I have my first appointment for nxt month, I think they'll do a scan then, I'm just so eager to find out if I'm definitely suitable for ivf, as quick as this year seems to be going the weeks waiting for this appointment seem to be taking forever! Is it something you'd consider?

Hello Hatebfn, sorry to see you are joining this train.I can't help you on the spotting, I never really get any, for the last few months tho my ovulation pains are worse than my period pains! I'm like you tho regarding the follicle count, I had 4 follicles on one side and none on the other, dh has no problem with his sa thankfully.We used pressed for awhile anyway but to no avail, starting ivf in the summer. My sister suffered with cysts on her ovaries tho, said the pain was unbearable some days. I really hope you get sorted soon x

Hoping to join this train and get some of yer vast experience. I am coming up to two years trying in august and I swear even the people I know who said they would never have kids have now announced they're pregnant We're waiting the last year to be called for a urology appointment to investigate the low SA resultsHi guys. I started pre seed last month as the hubby has a low sperm count of 4million and I have a low Antral follicle count of just 3 on right ovary that was before I started eltroxin for. Slow t3 and t4. Anyway 7 days before AF was due I started spotting and thought was implantation but this continued into a light period for seven days well seven days on from that when I should be ovulating here I am again light bleeding. So very confused and annoyed. Pains in back and pelvic area bleeding stopped after two days. I never have had ovulation pain this bad before. Can't palpate one particular ovary so unsure it's a cyst.

Omg Mosneda!!!!! Huge congratulations, I am so so happy for you. Fingers crossed for you it all goes well x

Memu I know how you feel, it is such a tough road to be on. Especially as you say you are trying everything, have you looked into ivf yet? I am going with Gennet in Prague, have my first appointment now in 6 weeks, excited yet anxious to get going x

Hi Ladies. Hope everyone is doing good. I got my long awaited BFP on Saturday morning and im beyond thrilled, but so so scared also. I dont even want to say it out loud. Each day I feel cramps and AF symptoms and im screaming please go away in my own head. Hoping and praying for my long awaited healthy baba. Going to doc to get it confirmed on Thursday.

Like so many of you on here, we are 3 years plus trying and exhausted mentally and emotionally from it. I took a break for a while from the forum as I couldnt cope with it. We are now looking at IVF and Im terrifed of another let down. After ovulation kits,IUI, vitamins, timed intercourse, healthy dieting, healthy outlook, positive thoughts. I'm just short of standing under a full moon, rubbing a cat my head while drinking raspberry tea and chanting the novena. I, no way wish to sound pessimistic or smart arsed but I'm so tired. There is an emptiness to life at the moment and I hope beyond on hope to see those 2 lines and hear that little heartbeat etc. This weekend I'm going to my hen party and I'm looking forward to it. But sometimes this whole trying to conceive just gets ya down.. Sorry for rant and best wishes to you all on this long road to motherhood x

Hi Dfeeley I recognise your name from the trains, sorry to see you are still in the same position, I'm almost 3 years trying now too, we are in the process of starting ivf, I found out I have love amh and low egg reserve so kind of had no other option, I'm just praying that when it comes to it I'll have enough eggs to retrieve, it's scary but I guess we'll soon find out. It is such a tough road. My best friend lives in England now, she txt me at 8am yday asking cud we Skype yday evening and my first thought was I bet she's gonna tell me she's pregnant again, I was so worked up all day thinking about it and how I was gonna react when she told me and low and behold she just wanted a chat! Is that bad that I felt that way all day?! I wudnt wish this on anyone and I always tell my friends to be grateful to conceive so easily cos I think until you go thro it you just don't know how hard it really is! I hope you find some answers soon x

We are going to try for 3 months, on our own, before going back to the doctors. I just find the whole process so stressful once the doctors get involved, which is why we stopped last time. I've had laporoscopy, dnc, hycosy and multiple scans/blood tests and was on clomid too, since we starting on this journey.

Not sure what the next step will be if not successful in the next 3 months.

DH is wondering why I'm giving it another 3 months. But I just want to know what way my cycles are (using OPK's) before I got back to the doc.

Sorry for delay in replying. Yes we're trying for number 1. Hubby has a child from previous relationship so his SA should be ok. Rang the other day was told it'll be a month before he can bring it in. Couldn't believe it. Don't have date for my hycosy yet. Basically I've to ring when my period starts and they do it between Day 5 and 10 but you know the hse they mightn't have availability so might take a few tries. Sod's law though my cycle has gone mental this month. Had three days of brown spotting when my period was due and nothing since. If you don't count it as a period I'm on day 52 now with random ewcm. Don't ya just love this ttc game!!

Hi mrsmeegan, good luck with Gennet. I've had a chat with a friend who's had issues ttc as well who will be going to Gennet too. Just hoping that this will work. I'm wondering what satellite clinic will you be using for the scans you'll need to have done here. We're in Cork and looking into ones here. I know there is a place in Tralee but that's about 1.5 hours from us

Hi Salsa, sorry to hear you are in the same position, I'm just in the process of starting off with Gennet, posted off all my bloods and tests etc today, get my appointment for Dublin then, looking forward to getting started..

Hi ladies, took a break from here for a while. Still no BFP and was finding the monthly let down tough. Looking into support group where I live. Long story short, we're looking into ivf in prague with Gennet. We've tried clomid for 6 months with no joy. Mosnenda, I'm curious about the letrozole. Would you be able to tell me a bit more about that?

Hey All. I havent been on in a while, decided to take a step back (again). Im on my second month of letrozole and its way better than the clomid. God I hated that clomid. Nothing else to report im afraid. Hope everyone is doing good xx

Hi amym53, I know you've been trying as long as I have, it's hard going isn't it, hopefully the vitamins will work for dh. We're in the opposite boat, dh had a brilliant sa but I've low egg count, we are starting on the road to ivf. I had a laparoscopy last June, they found nothing, it was only until I went to a private clinic and had what I think was called an Sis, internal ultrasound that they found out about my egg count so I'm kinda raging with myself that it took me a whole year to find this out, just wish I had of going there a yr ago instead of my local hospital, waiting months for an appointment. I hope we both get some good news soon x

Hi ladies God I'm so glad to hear yous gave the trains a miss aswell. Think he last train I was on was January. Like yourselves i couldn't see another early bfp on a newbie. Since then we've got all our test done. I had a ultrasound done aswell, dp had SA done. We got results my levels are all fine I have a small cyst on my right ovary which wudnt stop us getting pg so just leaving it. Dp sa test came bk as having a low sperm count. He was gutted. He said he knew in his heart that it was him. They gave him a quick physical down below them sent him for an ultrasound. He has a cyst aswell but again not any hindrance. He was told to take vitamins for 3mths and go bk for an sa test in 3mths. I've to go in for a laparoscopy and ive to gain a few pounds. So that's our journey so far. Hopefully we'll know more in may.

Hi hopeful88 I recognise your name from the trains, I left them too when people were on it ttc for one month and getting their bfp, I only started looking into these forums when I was ttc quite a while, it def isn't something I'd look into one month after trying!! That's just me! I hope you find out soon what the problem is, are you ttc #1?

Hi hopefull88,sorry to hear about your problems with ttc. Yeah the treatment really depends on what they find out. Maybe you won't need clomid at all. Hopefully the reason for your no luck so far will turn out to be an easily fixable problem. Do you have a date for hycosy yet?

Hi ladies I'm new to the long term ttc world. Iv been in the trains a good few times but was a bit put off as every month new people only trying a few months seemed to be getting what I had been trying so hard for. So stopped reading the forums and doing opks etc. Just monitored by cm really. Been trying 18 months now and saw gynae in the coombe today. She took Day 3 bloods and gave me blood forms to get Day 21 bloods done over next few months and come back in three months. Also gave hubby semen analysis form and is sending me for hycosy (which I'm really not looking forward to!). So suppose I'm at the start of this part of the ttc journey. Hopefully we get some answers. They said they'll look into clomid at the next appt. I suppose that will depend on what they find in the tests.

Mrsmeegan,clomid is fine. I'm only really having stronger ov cramps on it and that's it. I got a pregnyl shot last month and that made me very moody. I ovulated last month but did not get pg anyway.3OOL I do agree that stress is the reason in many cases and it's important to remember about the wellbeing of our minds when ttcing. It's very easy to get depressed. I don't like though that majority of doctors just assume that you're stressed and postpone investigating the problem. It took me 1.5 years before I got to see a gynae then another few months(only because I did the exams private,otherwise it would have taken longer) and after almost 2 years of a lot of disappointment I found that I have an inborn defect of the reproductive system. In my case "letting it happen" would just not work, but for months my GP was trying to convince me I was probably just stressed. At this stage I'm just tired of people telling me to relax. I felt like time was slipping through my fingers and no one was taking me seriously. But I do hope it will "just happen".

Congratulations 3ool, I totally agree with you, we had been trying for our lo for over 2 yrs when we decided to stop as we were getting married when I found out I was pregnant! Trying almost 3 yrs now for #2 but have been told I have low egg reserve and low amh, Dr reckons it's something that I've always had and we just got lucky first time round, I do agree with the relaxing and not thinking about it but it's easier said than done. I keep saying we'll do it and go with the flow but deep down I'll know when I'm ovulating every month and then dh will know too!! I'm waiting to start ivf in the next few months

hi ladies, haven't read all the replies but my two pennies here: baby#1 (at 30 yrs old) tried for 1 year, as we had decided to go to the doc and get bloods i got BPF instead and went in to confirm heartbeat; baby #2 tried for almost 3 years (of horror trials and tribulations including a trip down depression road and an incredible strain on our marriage), as we had decided to start IVF and i was waiting for AF to arrive to fill in the form with a date (of last period) I got a BFP instead; baby #3, just now, still early days and often still confused, burst on the scene totally unexpected as we were not even trying, just being casual about it as i am still breastfeeding my 18 months old (so given my history, a one in a gazillion chances of getting pregnant at all !). Coincidentally i had bought cheap ovulation tests as I said i would monitor the next couple of cycles just to see how my body was doing. Had to return them to get a pregnancy test instead ! So from my experience all i can say is: the brain truly IS the most powerful organ we possess. Best of luck everyone. PS from the million tests we had done over the years, nothing was ever found that would prevent us from getting pregnant, so to say we did not have a pre-existing condition; the only thing that was stopping us truly was my anxiety and expectations. xxx

Just trying to get bloods and smears and things sorted, hoping to be able to make my appointment in the next 2 weeks so I'll get the ball rolling then, it's a slow process at the moment!How are you feeling on the clomid? X

Hey mrsmeegan,No changes here either. I'm starting my third cycle on clomid. So when are you hoping to start all the treatments for ivf? All the best of luck with it! Hope everything goes well for you! Xx

thanks mrsmeegan, we are pretty excited all right. I got the royal jelly in Holland & Barrett, got everything I needed there. The book I read by Jean Twenge also talks about DHEA as a good supplement for improving egg quality but I think you need a prescription here for it. That was my next stop (in the long list of things I was planning!). If you haven't tried follicle tracking I would recommend it. You get internal ultrasounds every day from approx. CD9 onwards until you ovulate and they track the size of the follicle(s) and the uterine lining as well as pinpointing the time you ovulated. That was the month I got pregnant following the OB's exact instructions down to the time of day we dtd.

Thank you and congratulations sansastark!! My AMH was 8 but like you I am gonna go and get them done on day 3 and see what they're like, hopefully not worse!!I tried accunpuncture last year and it wasn't for me, not sure if it was the last doing it or what!! Can I ask where you got the royal jelly etc? Was only reading about them last night!

Girls, I just wanted to give some good news to those of you with low AMH. I am 34 and because I am a total obsessive person I insisted on having all the day 3 bloods, FSH and AMH done before my husband and I even started trying to have a baby! This was last May. I wanted to know up front if I would have an issue (bizarre, yes). Anyway the results came back not as I'd hoped, day 3 and day 21 bloods all fine with FSH slightly higher than normal but ok but AMH was only 6.8. At this stage I was only 33. Cue disaster, I thought I'd never get pregnant and I started making appointments with SIMS and researching clinics abroad - I was even convinced I was going straight to donor eggs because I'd read IVF is less successful for women with low AMH. Anyway, after all that and my poor DH listening to nightly ranting and breakdowns of costs etc I got pregnant naturally in August, 3 months after we started trying. Once I got the low AMH result I started acupuncture and taking royal jelly, selenium and l'arginine immediately as they are all supposed to improve egg quality and if you've only got a few, you need good ones :) I also didn't listen to the typical GP advice of 'just relax, it'll happen'. I became even more obsessive. I tracked my temperature and my CM, used OPKs, bought a fertility monitor, made my DH give up caffeine, did follicle tracking with Polmed on Parnell Street (much cheaper than anywhere else) and the OB there literally told me exactly when to DTD - Tuesday morning before work; Wednesday evening before 9pm etc. It was hilarious! I also read 'The Impatient Woman's Guide to getting pregnant', by Jean Twenge - it's a great book for anyone interested. She had low AMH as well and had 3 kids after the age of 34.

So there's a good chance I am just incredibly lucky to be expecting my first baby in 12 weeks time or, having read lots and lots about AMH because of course despite being pregnant I almost immediately started stressing about how we would have a 2nd child when I was barely pregnant with my first (obsessive, for sure!) it does seem that low AMH is only a predictor of issues for SOME women, not all. I've read that it is generally genetic (my mother had 4 kids, her last at 37 so it clearly didn't inhibit her) but that LOTS of women with low AMH go on to get pregnant naturally because you only need one egg. It's a slight disadvantage when going for IVF because the purpose is to stimulate the follicles to produce lots and lots of eggs (but you still only need one good one!) but it doesn't really decrease your chances of a natural pregnancy. Also - there are lots of cases where women were told their AMH levels were low only for repeat tests to show they had improved despite doctors saying this doesn't generally happen. So to the ladies with AMH of 8, 12 and 15 - those levels are fine. Please don't despair. You read lots of stories of women with levels of 1 and 2 getting pregnant. When I told my consultant mine were low but it only took a few months to get pregnant he didn't bat an eyelid - he said it's more a predictor of when you'll reach menopause - but like, the average age of hitting menopause in Ireland is 55 so even if it's a decade earlier for me, that still gives me more than 10 years to have babies.

Sorry very long winded post but hopefully it helps some people who are worried about low AMH levels.

Mrsmeegan sorry to hear that is your next step, thats upsetting but fair play to you for taking the bull by the horns. Its so annoying that they only figure this out now but at least you have an answer.

Callah, I agree with the time frame, its lousey to leave someone so long with no answers. I hope the clomid works for you. Like mrsmeegan I was also very moody on it, I was on 100mg for 3 months.

amym53 - any update as of yet? I hope you got lucky.

So back with Dr McDreamy (endocrinologist) last friday, like he just swans in, gives a prescription and goes. I caught him going out the door and asked if its possible for another scan to make sure PCOS is my issue and he advised that its pointless, that it doesnt revert. I thought well why am I on Metfomin for the past year then! Hes given me Letrozole for 4 months, he said if this doesnt work its on to the fertility clinic in galway for egg harvesting. I dont even know what that means, but if its IVF Ill be ending my TTC with assistance journey then.

Im going to pop into my GP I think soon and ask her if she can obtain my bloods for the past few months and my AMH and every thing else and ask her to go thu them all with me, because im really lost in all of this. So, this month im medication free!! then on to the Letrozole. Which is used for breast cancer sufferers :-(

Well Mrsmeegan this is the problem with our health system - never ending queues. I first went to my GP with this problem in May of 2015 and she wouldn't refer me to a gynea for ages (because I'm relatively young) so I only got referred a year later. Then I got put on a waiting list to see the gynea (my original letter said I'd be waiting around 10 months but the I got seen in 4 months) then got put on a waiting list to have the exams done (got them done privately because I didn't have the patience to be waiting for that as well ) and now almost 2 years later I finally know what the problem is. It's ridiculous it took them that long to diagnose me and it probably would have taken even longer if I hadn't done some of the tests privately.In terms of clomid - last month I was on 50mg and that was fine - no side effects apart from stronger ov pains. The problem is that dose didn't work because it didn't stimulate my both ovaries so I got put on 100mg this month. Hope it works.I'm going for a scan to check my ovaries again the second week of March. In terms of ivf clinics - you're right by going abroad, it's so expensive here that very often you're only able to have one go at it. Good luck with Gennet. I've seen many people speaking well about them on RC.Amym53 your progesterone is very good, mine was only 45 unmedicated. I also have a small cyst and the doctor told me that it will resolve itself and that it's nothing to worry about. Hope af stays away for you!

I was in the hospital on Friday for an ultrasound. I've a small cyst on my right ovary, nurse said that wudnt wudnt be an issue in getting pg. Saw the consultant got all other test results. My amh is 12.9 my progesterone is 86 said everything is fine I'm ovulating and good reserve. My dp has low sperm count, got an examination then bloods he has to get a scan aswell and do another sa test in 3 mths plus has to take vitamins till then. He was gutted. Due af today no sign of it yet. Not getting hopes up though as have been couple days late in had past. I'm due to get a laparoscopy on Tuesday was told to cancel if on period so don't know wat to do yet. I mite postpone it till late nxt available appointment. I'll know tomorrow as either way I'll do a test in the morning.

Haha your OK! I'm gonna ring gennet tomorrow,see when I can get an appointment, Dr said the eggs count varies every month and cud be better this time but I know the drugs you start taking before ivf help with that. I'm just at a point that I need to do something, it was this time last yr I first went to my doc and here I am a year later only finding out the problem! How are you feeling on the clomid? I was so moody for 2 or 3 days after taking it, was horrible!